Debating

Debating in Mount Sackville

‘It is the mark of an educated person to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it’ – Aristotle

Debating is all about ideas, competing ideas. All too often we readily accept what presented to us as passive participants in the marketplace of ideas. Debating pulls us out of that comfort zone, pushes us to the rostrum and forces us to defend our opinions. More powerfully still, it can compel us to argue against our beliefs, a challenge, which once accepted, can greatly enhance our capacity to think critically and look upon the world with a more sceptical disposition than before.

In Mount Sackville Secondary School, debating has enjoyed a long tradition with many notable successes. In the Leinster Schools and Junior Schools competitions in recent years, the majority of competing students have reached the semi-finals. Other competitions which the school has long has associations include the Belvedere Mace and the Phil ‘Speaks’ Competition. As well as speaking in events externally, senior students assist in the running of an internal competition for junior students.

All students who participate in debating events whether within the school or without stand to benefit when it comes to their academic subjects. The structuring of a speech, the collation of evidence, the marshalling of ideas to support one’s argument form the very essence of essay writing in subjects like English, History, Classical Studies and Geography. With the new Junior Cycle English programme, the ability to present information to an audience is appraised in a Classroom Based Assessment. Perhaps even more important for many of the students taking part, is not just winning the argument but gaining new friends and interests.